I recently got a email from my age group swim team. They sent out a mass email about deck changing. Ohio rules now are if you are caught changing on deck before or after practice you are then suspended for a week and also the next swim meet. If caught at a meet doing this, you will be immediately removed from meet and the team will suspend you one week.
Is this pretty much a standard rule across the club teams or now a USS rule? I suppose I can see how this can become an issue and concern. Have to say I have not seen many masters doing the deck change, although I admit, I have deck changed at a masters meet but not at a USS meet.
Former Member
Deck changing is de rigueur. Who in their right mind is going to tire out their legs walking to a cramped, overcrowded (dark, cold, damp, etc) locker room when you can change "on the spot"?
Yet another ridiculous USA-S rule, IMHO. YMMV.
At the CCS championships (high school, Bay Area in CA), they banned deck changing and shaving down in the locker room showers as "unsportsmanlike conduct". WTF?!
In Pa and particularly at Penn State you are not allowed to shave in the showers because of blood born pathagons(SP).
Never saw much deck changing in PA.
I won't miss the deck change anymore (though I used to use it here and there). The thing I can never figure out is why anyone would wake up for a 5 AM practice, put on clothes, then immediately come to the pool and change into a swimsuit. Unless maybe you want to waste warm-up time changing in the locker room, it seems like an unnecessary step to me!
Cause my boys like to be free! :agree::afraid:
I can't imagine not showering after swimming, so there's no reason for a deck change. A beach change, OTOH, is a whole different story.
I sort of agree with geek. Showing up to the pool with your suit already on is weird. It just is.
Well, count me as one of those weird people. :agree:
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I get up at 5:15, visit the little girls room, wash my face, put on my suit and then my street clothes, and head to the gym. It makes the difference of me being late or arriving on time for the start of my workout.
But, I am not one of those "non-showering, towel-bringing" ladies. I always shower before getting into the pool and am glad to bring one less item and use the towels that are provided.
I'm not a "deck changer", but anytime I swim open water, you can count on me changing into my street clothes in public (next to my car). I do my best to keep myself covered with my towel, and so far, have not flashed anyone. :blush:
i, for one, never deck change at the pool, however... on the beach, at the park, near the lake, in the parking lot, etc. yeah, but do you ever actually swim in a pool?:)
Yea, what constitutes deck changing? I arrive to practice (USA-S team) with my suit on under my tshirt and shorts and take them off on deck. I, however, get dressed to go home in the locker room. But there are several teenage males on my team who deck change, even down to underwear (saw boxers last week). Our coach has asked them not to do it at the public facility but we also swim at a pool where we are the only team and we have a lot more leniency.
I generally shower after work, just before heading to the pool. More often than not I'll just put my suit on at home and then head to practice. Never really thought about it as being weird, it's just convenient. Always find time to rinse off in the showers afterwards, more a habit than a necessity I suppose.
Our team has no policy against deck changing.
Oh yes, I chew Eclipse Sugar Free Gum from time to time as well.
Everybody is someone else's weird.
The only thing that makes sense to me at 5 am is coming the pool in my pajamas. Then I change in the locker room which you have to go through to get to the pool that I use. I go home in my pajamas too.
Eventually I get to work, not in my pajamas...
